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Who’s Cooperating in the Blagojevich Investigation?

By Sharon Otterman December 11, 2008 7:00 pmDecember 11, 2008 7:00 pm

Federal authorities got a big break in the investigation of Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich in October when John Wyma, a fund-raiser and close adviser of the Illinois governor, decided to cooperate with the United States attorney in hopes of gaining immunity from prosecution. While Mr. Wyma’s lawyer has said his client refused to wear a wire, the federal affidavit unsealed on Tuesday indicates that the information he provided helped the government get court approval to bug the offices of the governor’s campaign fund, The Friends of Blagojevich, in an operation that began on Oct. 22.

In the affidavit, Mr. Wyma appears as “Individual A”; he takes part in discussions during which the governor allegedly seeks campaign contributions in exchange for state contracts and other favors.

Other associates of the governor are also cooperating with federal investigators in the hopes of reducing their prison sentences for extortion, corruption, and other charges. Here are some of them:Antoin Rezko: A real-estate developer and principal fund-raiser for Mr. Blagojevich, Mr. Rezko was convicted by a federal jury on June 4 of 16 counts of fraud, money laundering and bribery. He is currently in prison awaiting sentencing, and the affidavit confirms that he is cooperating with federal authorities. Mr. Rezko had also contributed to President-elect Barack Obama’s campaign for the Illinois Senate in 1995 and his re-election campaigns. He also raised money for Mr. Obama’s Congressional race in 2000, but not his presidential campaign. In 2005, Mr. Rezko and his wife, Rita, entered into a real estate deal with Mr. Obama that allowed the senator to enlarge his yard on Chicago’s South Side. Although Mr. Obama has denied that there was anything illegal about the deal, he told The Washington Post it was a “boneheaded” mistake because Mr. Rezko was under federal investigation at the time.

Stuart Levine: The affidavit alleges that as a board member of the Teachers Retirement System pension fund and the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board, Mr. Levine worked with Mr. Rezko and others in demanding kickbacks and political contributions to Mr. Blagojevich’s campaigns in exchange for political favors. In 2006, he pleaded guilty to multiple felonies in a scheme to squeeze millions of dollars from firms seeking state business. And this year he testified in Mr. Rezko’s trial. As a result of his plea and his cooperation, the government will recommend that Mr. Levine be sentenced to 67 months imprisonment, not the life term he could have otherwise faced, the affidavit states.

Joseph Cari: The national finance chairman of Vice President’s Al Gore’s 2000 presidential campaign and a Democratic fund-raiser in Illinois, Mr. Cari pleaded guilty this year to charges of attempted extortion and faces up to 2 1/2 years in prison. According to the affidavit, Mr. Cari — at the request of Mr. Rezko and another leading Blagojevich fund-raiser, Christopher Kelly– informed employees of JER, a real-estate investment firm, that they needed to hire the consultant whom the “governor and people around the governor” preferred if they wanted to receive money to invest from Teachers Retirement System.

Ali Ata: As part of a cooperation agreement with the government, Mr. Ata, a businessman, pleaded guilty in the spring to tax fraud and making false statements to the F.B.I. According to the affidavit, after Mr. Ata raised at least $25,000 for Mr. Blagojevich’s campaign fund, the governor directed his staff to find Mr. Ata a job in which he could “make some money.” He was subsequently appointed executive director of the Illinois Finance Authority, a $127,000-a-year job, which he held for about a year. Mr. Ata told investigators that Mr. Rezko had asked him to draw up a list of the jobs he wanted, and had helped him to set up meetings with the governor.

I like the way Pres elect Obama put forward his case in the press conference(Dec 11) what drives some people to enter politics.He was quite clear about the class of people who enter politics for sheer “self·-aggrandizement “.He was clear in in his mind who he was refering to.

Let’s hope the expected indictment and the trial to follow should bring out leading players/stake holders in the “self·-aggrandizement ” process.

You’re missing the real story, which is outlined in this letter I sent to Fitzgerald:

Dear Mr. Fitzgerald:

Today you told the press, in connection with the Blagojevich arrest, “We were in the middle of a corruption crime spree and we wanted to stop it.” And yet most of the complaint is based on evidence you have had for a number of years. In other words, if the matter concerning the appointment of a Senator were removed, you would still have had enough evidence to indict Blagojevich. In fact, the complaint shows that you have enough evidence for a number of years.

This means that you and no one else, allowed Blagojevich to continue on a “crime spree” long after you had enough evidence to arrest him. Indeed, he would never have gotten to the point at which he was about to sell a Senate seat, if you had arrested him earlier. Why did you not do so? Why did you allow him to commit more crimes?

And now you are about to show the same negligence again. You are apparently about to make the same mistake with regard to Barack Obama. As you probably know, Evelyn Pringle has published detailed online articles concerning Obama’s participation in “Operation Board Games” crimes. Below, I reproduce paragraphs from your own Blagojevich complaint, and after them, a section from the Pringle Obama articles dealing with precisely the same facts as the complaint.

Her articles show in detail that Obama has committed the same 18 USC 1346 crimes you discuss in your Blagojevich complaint. And yet he has not yet been arrested. Why not?

Just as you allowed Blagojevich to get to the point where he was about to sell a United States Senate seat, so you allowed Obama to be elected President, and apparently you are willing to let him continue his own crime spree by actually becoming President.

It was irresponsible for you to continue to allow Blagojevich to continue in office when you had enough evidence to arrest him, and it is irresponsible of you now to allow Obama to continue in office and become President, when you have enough evidence to arrest him.

Arrest Obama now. It is irresponsible of you to wait any longer.

Sincerely yours,

John Ryskamp

I. FROM THE BLAGOJEVICH COMPLAINT

35. As described more fully in the following paragraphs, Mercy Hospital, which sought permission from the Planning Board to build a hospital in Illinois, received that permission through Rezko’s exercise of his influence at the Planning Board after Rezko was promised that Mercy Hospital would make a substantial campaign contribution to ROD BLAGOJEVICH. Rezko later told a member of the Planning Board that Mercy Hospital received the permit because ROD BLAGOJEVICH wanted the organization to receive the permit.

36. Levine’s criminal activities included his abuse of his position on the Planning Board to enrich both himself and Friends of Blagojevich. The Planning Board was a commission of the State of Illinois, established by statute, whose members were appointed by the Governor of the State of Illinois. At the relevant time period, the Planning Board consisted of nine individuals. State law required an entity seeking to build a hospital, medical office building, or other medical facility in Illinois to obtain a permit, known as a “Certificate of Need” (“CON”), from the Planning Board prior to beginning construction.

37. Levine, as well as Planning Board members Thomas Beck and Imad Almanaseer, testified under oath at the Rezko Trial.9 Beck testified that he asked Rezko to reappoint him to the Planning Board and that Beck thereafter followed Rezko’s directions regarding which CON applications Rezko wanted approved. Beck testified that it was his job to communicate Rezko’s interest in particular CONs to other members of the Planning Board, including Almanaseer, who were loyal to Rezko. Beck testified that he understood that Rezko spoke for the Blagojevich administration when Rezko spoke to Beck about particular CONs. Almanaseer testified that Beck instructed him that Rezko wanted Almanaseer to vote a particular way and that Almanaseer should follow Levine’s lead in voting on CONs. Almanaseer testified that before certain Planning Board meetings, he received notecards from Beck indicating how to vote on certain CON applications. Beck testified he provided these notecards to Almanaseer and certain other members of the Planning Board to communicate Rezko’s directions about certain CON applications.

38. During his testimony, Levine described a plan to manipulate the Planning Board to enrich himself and Friends of Blagojevich. The plan centered on an entity commonly known as Mercy Hospital (“Mercy”) that was attempting to obtain a CON to build a new hospital in Illinois. Levine knew the contractor hired to help build the hospital. In approximately November 2003, on behalf of the contractor, Levine checked with Rezko to determine whether Rezko wanted Mercy to obtain its CON. Rezko informed Levine that Mercy was not going to receive its CON. According to Levine, he asked Rezko whether it would matter to Rezko if Mercy’s construction contractor paid a bribe to Rezko and Levine and, in addition, made a contribution to ROD BLAGOJEVICH. Levine testified that Rezko indicated that such an arrangement would change his view on the Mercy CON.

39. Levine’s testimony regarding Rezko’s actions to change the Planning Board decision concerning Mercy’s application for a CON based on contributions for ROD BLAGOJEVICH is confirmed by attorney Steven Loren. Loren testified at Rezko’s criminal trial and, before that, in the grand jury.11 According to Loren, in approximately December 2003, Levine informed Loren that Rezko was against the Mercy CON. According to Loren, Levine relayed to Loren a conversation between Rezko and Levine during which Levine asked Rezko whether a political contribution to ROD BLAGOJEVICH would make a difference for Mercy’s CON, and Rezko responded to Levine that such a contribution might make a difference.

40. Thereafter, and confirmed by the testimony of Levine, Beck, and Almanaseer, as well as recorded conversations, Rezko switched his directions to Beck and informed Beck that Mercy was to receive its CON. According to Almanaseer, although he previously had been told by Beck that Rezko did not want Mercy to receive its CON, he was later told that there had been a change and that Rezko now wanted Mercy to receive its CON.

41. Mercy received its CON as a result of a controversial and irregular vote at a public Planning Board meeting.12 The vote brought significant publicity to the Planning Board and ultimately led to the disbanding of the Planning Board. Almanaseer testified under oath in the grand jury that not long after the Planning Board vote on Mercy’s CON he saw Rezko at a fundraiser. According to Almanaseer, he was still embarrassed about what had occurred at the Planning Board vote on Mercy’s CON and Rezko’s role in the vote. Almanaseer testified that he asked Rezko why Rezko had switched the vote on the Mercy CON. According to Almanaseer, Rezko stated: “The Governor wanted it to pass.”

II. FROM EVELYN PRINGLE’S “CURTAIN TIME” ONLINE ARTICLES

Tony Rezko is a private citizen. Therefore, the evidence presented in the trial focused on his influence over officials in getting members appointed to the Boards. Prosecutors did not discuss how the legislation got passed that enabled the Planning Board to be set up in a way that allowed for the appointment of members to rig the votes to begin with.

That part of the scheme will likely be detailed in future indictments, probably starting with Blagojevich. Blagojevich signed the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act with an effective date of June 27, 2003. However, before he could sign the act, a bill had to be passed by the Illinois House and Senate. As discussed fully in Curtain Time Part II, Obama was the inside guy in the senate who pushed through the legislation that resulted in the Act.

Obama was appointed chairman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. The minute the bill was introduced, it was referred to his committee for review. The sponsors of the bill also served on this committee with Obama. Within a month, Chairman Obama sent word to the full senate that the legislation should be passed.

On May 31, 2003, Senate Bill 1332 passed and specified that the “Board shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate.” The legislation reduced the number of members from 15 to 9, paving the way for the appointment of a five-bloc majority to rig the votes.

The corrupt members appointed included three doctors who contributed to Obama. Michel Malek gave Obama $10,000 on June 30, 2003 and donated $25,000 to Blagojevich on July 25, 2003. Malek also gave Obama another $500 in September 2003.

Fortunee Massuda donated $25,000 to Blagojevich on July 25, 2003, and gave a total of $2,000 to Obama on different dates. After he was appointed, Dr Imad Almanaseer contributed a total of $3,000 to Obama. Almanaseer did not give money to Blagojevich.

When the first pay-to-play scheme was put in play, and the application for approval of a new hospital was submitted, the Department of Human Services, along with four other Illinois agencies, sent recommendations that the project should be approved even though experts said the hospital was not needed.

During the trial, Rezko’s attorney presented an email exchange to the jury that hinted at Obama’s role in setting up the scheme. The exchange showed that Obama and seven other top Illinois politicians consulted on the legislation passed in 2003 and were involved in recommending the members for the board.

Matthew Pickering wrote the memo to Blagojevich’s general counsel, Susan Lichtenstein, on behalf of David Wilhelm, a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, who headed Blagojevich’s 2002 campaign for governor.

Pickering said he and Wilhelm had “worked closely” over six months with state legislators. The memo recommended the appointees listed above and stated, “our attached recommendations reflect that involvement” with the political leaders.

The persons appointed to rig the votes, including those who contributed to Blagojevich and Obama, are cooperating in exchange for immunity or lighter prison sentences.

Feds shut down pay-to-play schemes

Only two pay-to-play schemes succeeded before the Feds swooped in and shut them all down. Blagojevich did not receive the $1.5 million from the Planning Board deal because the hospital was never built.

But Obama received $20,000 from the first kickback paid in the pension fund scheme and the straw donors used to funnel the $10,000 payments, Elie Maloof and Joseph Aramanda, also made $1,000 contributions to Obama’s failed run for Congress in 2000.

In addition, Aramanda gave $500 to Obama’s senate campaign on June 30, 2003. In the summer of 2005, Aramanda’s son landed an intern position in Obama’s Washington office.

Obama also received contributions for his senate campaign from the two persons appointed to rig the vote on the pension fund board. On June 30, 2003, Jack Carriglio contributed $1,000, and the other appointee, Anthony Abboud, donated $500 on June 30, 2003, $250 on March 5, 2004, and $1,000 on June 25, 2004.

The person chosen to funnel the kickback in a future scheme, Michael Winter, donated $3,000 to Obama on June 30, 2003.

All these people are also cooperating in exchange for immunity or lesser prison sentences but prosecutors pointed out during closing arguments that people who entered into agreements with the government are required to tell the truth or all deals are off.

“Obama has denied that there was anything illegal about the deal, he told The Washington Post it was a “boneheaded mistake” because Mr. Rezko was under federal investigation at the time.”
Contrast this with most politicans who persist in coverup’s and evasions. Obama called it for what is was, ‘boneheaded.’
Now all the carping from the right wing freaks continues. If Obama doesnt owns up to it, he’s wrong and when he does, its not good enough. This of course from the Bush apologists, the one continues to mislead and lie about the war.

I’m sorry–but this all really seems like a distraction to a diversion to a sideshow at a county carnival–all to get us to look away while the controlling corporcrats proceed with their war on on the bottom 90% and finish looting the nation.

It’s called a $700 billion bailout–lets call a spade a spade–that money is flowing out the door without so much as a string attached–here, take $25 BILLION–no–I insist–while the conservatives who still control the media, and effectively the government–use their final days to shaft labor:

“WASHINGTON — In a last-ditch effort to revive a government rescue for the American auto industry, Senator Bob Corker, Republican of Tennessee, was trying late Thursday to persuade Senate Democrats to back an alternate plan that would require steep concessions by the United Auto Workers union.”

The Big Three bridge loan debace has always been about consefvatives and the GOP seeing this as their last, best chance to destroy a union that has consistently supported Democrats.

And the supine media not only doesn’t call them on it–they rush to the scene of the crime in Chicago–and get totally knotted up in their collective underwear speculating what it all really means.

Here’s a news flash folks–it means NOTHING.

Whatever the idiot governor of illinois tried to do–it will not save your home, your job or that cheesy “private” health insurance that does a better job of sucking money out of your wallet than keeping you healthy.

You’re missing the real story, which is outlined in this letter I sent to Fitzgerald:
— John Ryskamp

Boy, oh boy, I bet Fitzgerald was thrilled to get your letter! Whatever would he do without keen minds like you and the famous Evelyn whatsername to get the goods so he can rush right out and arrest the next President.

I’m sure he put your letter right at the top of the stack where he keeps the case notes on the cleverly forged birth certificate, the investigation into the meaning of the secret terrorist fist bump, Michelle Obama’s blueprints for the takeover of the country by black militants (oh-so deviously disguised as a law school thesis), and all the other invaluable investigative aids he has no doubt been getting from patriotic heroes like yourself ever since November 5, if not before.

Perspective on the President Elect: The Only Surprise is How Quickly Obama’s Administration Is Getting Messed Up By Corruption

In a way, I’m not surprised. I think a quick review of Barack Obama’s pattern of “rolling denial” and cooperation with corrupt elements in Illinois would lead any disinterested observer to conclude that similar practices will prevail in his presidential administration.

After all, he looked the other way as Tony Rezko ripped off the people of Chicago.

What has surprised me, however, is how quickly the culture of corruption has caught up with him. Thank God for wiretaps and a free press. I still don’t understand how Axelrod could claim one minute that Barack Obama had conversations with the Governor…and then simply claim he was mistaken. In my common sense world…that’s called being a liar.

Excuse me Don Duval But,
It was a pretty tight vote of congress ( 170 or so who voted no,) that passed the bridge loan, and as I have read, No one is happy about it, and the big three. Concessions by the Union leaders as well as the union members will need to happen, with out a doubt, along with concessions by the manufactures or big three auto makers , along with concessions of the consumers demand for there hearts desire in a vehicle.

#10 Steve Bolger,
Ahh Networking, it sounds so innocently useful in the private sector,,
But , as I have said in the past,
What is going on in Illinois , is just the tip of the iceburg of curruption in politics and politicians.
As we walk through our lives , wearing the rose color glasses of our particular partisanship loyalties,, the rest of the world is sick of us, and our hypocrtic ways.
As I am not prepared to point fingers at PE Obama in any way,,
I am saying,
This is a perfect example of why , we are in trouble in America, and in the worlds oppinion.
We Elect a New President,,,, and before the man even takes office,, aparently with prior knowlege, (three years prior) Almost every single person of importance to Obamas up start in politics , and or important compadre in career goals or acomplishment is under investigation to some degree as we speak.
Some Of Us,,, questioned this , and these persons,,, during the election cycle, and we were ridiculed, attacked as haters, and then assured by supporters,media, and party leaders, that “ALL ” the proper VETTING was done.

ALL the proper VETTING was not done

And NOW

We will find ourselves in the middle of ANOTHER EMBARRESMENT in world oppinion againts us,,,
ANOTHER series of Grand jury investigation, possible Impeachment,, and surely criminal verdicts againts big time players with ties to Our sitting President Elect Obama.

And notice how I said WE,,,
” WE ” are all guilty to some degree
But,
“WE” can all change this,,,, together, at the voting booth, by expressing our disgust, to our congressmen and women,
and refusal to except politics and leadership curruption at any level ,,, in Bi-partisan fashion,, as a whole, or in base by base example if needed.

#8 Lois LIBERAL Jones,
Your attempt to lessen the impact of the seriousness of John Ryskamp’s post,, Is at the very core of the problems we face as a nation. Your willingness to scoff at obvious and deep curruption at every level in one state,, repeatedly for many years is telling of whats wrong in America.
As a republican in party Affiliation,, period,,, But an American citizen first,, I see this as a GREAT start Of reform,, and hope it spreads to infect and implicate curruption of BOTH parties in the future.
If this investigation Implicates the President Elect,, so -be-it,
If this investigation, sheds light on politcal curruption, as a whole,, and ALL parties that participate in curruption of a nation,,, Including Republicans,,,

I’m a very convinced ‘change we can believe in’-followerr, and would still vote for Barry even if he would get implicated in this case. Did anyone really believe that Barack Obama has no proverbial dirt under his finger nails? Please, to get to where he is, you inevitably will need to navigate treacherous political dirty waters. The only thing is, how do you navigate them, and what is the final outcome. In this case, the final outcome is someone who is appointing intelligent and hard working people to important posts. (for example energy secretary was great pick IMO) Anyone who has ever been at the top of the proverbial piramid, has had to manage funds, posts, etc. to which other people would like to get access, will know the challenge of dealing with such issues, and how dirty business might get even though you stand by your own principles. That at least is my own experience, and I am convinced it applies to all levels of society, small or multinational businesses; local or global politics, it doesn’t matter. Anyone who denies this needs to pull their head out of the sand. So: Let’s just focus on saving the economy and the planet, because that is somewhat more pressing!

I wonder whether names like Emmanuel and Axelrod are coming up in the rush to cooperate in exchange for immunity or a lesser jail sentence. I don’t know if these guys did anything wrong, but the appearances associated with Chicago politics call into question everybody’s honesty. It is a shame how the bad money pushes out the good, but that is why we need reformers who refuse to play ball with the Chicago slime.

Actually, Mark from Wilkes Barre PA, you clearly have no idea what has caused the United States to sink abysmally in world opinion (n.b., one “p” in opinion). So let me start you on the right path: it isn’t Rod Blagojevich trying to sell Obama’s Senate seat. It’s stuff like starting wars with other countries for no justifiable reason, incarcerating people and holding them without trial or charges, wiretapping our own citizens, wreaking environmental havoc and denying that there is even an environmental problem, failing to provide even the basic needs of life, such as health care, for our own citizens, torturing people, rampant gun violence, letting one of our major cities wash away without making any effort to rebuild it; stuff like that.

Whenever there’s an embarrassing revelation about anything even REMOTELY RELATED to Obama, we get the same, standard smoke screening from Don Duval, Priceless and their ilk: it’s a distraction, a diversion, a side show, a rehashing, a trashing.

Obama’s staff didn’t discuss “any of this” with Blagojevich…except Axelrod is ON TAPE saying that there were discussions…but then Axelrod says that he made a mistake.

Kudos…and thanks…to John Ryskamp for his post AND for the letter he sent to Fitzgerald. It’s much appreciated by this reader, John.

Whenever there’s an embarrassing revelation about anything even REMOTELY RELATED to Obama, we get the same, standard smoke screening from Don Duval, Priceless and their ilk: it’s a distraction, a diversion, a side show, a rehashing, a trashing.

Obama’s staff didn’t discuss “any of this” with Blagojevich…except Axelrod is ON TAPE saying that there were discussions…but then Axelrod says that he made a mistake.

Kudos…and thanks…to John Ryskamp for his post AND for the letter he sent to Fitzgerald. It’s very much appreciated by this reader, John.

#17 Relax Lois,
Your writing and acting like all that the USA has every done wrong only happened during George Bush’s administration,,, ( and thanks for Spellin”coraction)
In my “OPINION”,
You are seriously flawed in your imformation and your Tunnel vision.
Our problems in the middle east go back as far as the 1950’s and are the same problems we continue to have over and over , regardless of who is president including the greatest peace president , Jimmy Carter.
Our problems with World “OPINION” of us, and againts us ,, was formed and nurtured long before Bush came to leadership,, and are all about the policies of a Powerful and free nation. A new commer to the history and will of countries leaders who don’t feel we should hold or deserve this power,,,, as of lately ,,, they may have a point,, on many fronts and principals.

So let me start YOU on the right path,,, It is Blago selling senate seats , It is politicians getting caught in bathroom sex, It is Politicians getting caught frequenting prostitutes, sexcapades with interns, Ties with criminals of all fashions, Land deal scams ,Housing, wall street, and mortgage scams,, It is union, lobbyist and pay to play, It is partisan bias and extreme abuse of power,,
That makes us look less than worthy of the last super-power left on the planet,,,,,,

Well, Mark, no doubt that is the way it seems in Wilkes Barre, but, no. You would have your work cut out for you to find many people in the world who know about, much less care about, Republican gay sex in airport bathrooms.

Find me an equivalent display of outrage over Larry Craig, Blagojevich, or any of the other things you think people besides you are worried about, and I’ll certainly find your argument more persuasive.

lois, what exactly do you mean by ,
” No doubt, thats the way it seems in Wilkes Barre PA ”
Are you suggesting that we here in Wilkes barre, are not worldly, savy, or politicaly sound ?

You better do your homework or tune into Wilkes Radio 103.1 fm ,,, We here in Progressive prooving ground zero, Have somthing to say,,,70 + years of democratic controll and counting gives us a platform and experience equaled by few,,, and envied by none.

Well, I wouldn’t want to say that Wilkes Barre is not the center of all that’s Happening, dear me no!

Actually, I admit I’ve never been there. But I HAVE lived more of my life outside the USA than in it, and in four different countries, plus I have worked in several more and travelled in more still. And even counting my family I know lots more non-Americans than Americans. So I do feel safe in claiming that I know more than most Wilkes Barrens (Barrians? Barrites??) about how people outside the USA regard the USA; and how, when, and why their opinions have changed over the past few decades.

well,,, then you will accept who I know and there experience and mine out side the USA too , my dear friend”s daughter is majoring in world religeons and has traveled extensively, Her encounters differ from yours in who knows what about who,,,

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